This was a fun little book filled with personal vignettes. Some of the essays were quite short, and most of them had been previously published in variThis was a fun little book filled with personal vignettes. Some of the essays were quite short, and most of them had been previously published in various magazines.
I really enjoyed Ephron's lighthearted writing style as usual. There was lots of casual namedropping, which added to the fun!
Overall, this is a nice, entertaining book that I would recommend to anyone who likes personal essays! ...more
I listened to this in audio book format, which I found definitely enhanced my experience. David Sedaris books I find are best enjoyed in audiobook, asI listened to this in audio book format, which I found definitely enhanced my experience. David Sedaris books I find are best enjoyed in audiobook, as his reading is like a friend telling you stories about their life.
Overall sections of this book were very fun, and others were very sad. I find there was a good balance of funny anecdotes, realizations and just plain craziness!
If you enjoy David Sedaris-read this! If you enjoy memoirs or personal essays I would also recommend this!
As with other collections, whether they be short-stories or essays, Changing My Mind contained selections that I loved, as well as sections I did not As with other collections, whether they be short-stories or essays, Changing My Mind contained selections that I loved, as well as sections I did not find as interesting. Despite this, I have to say this was a very good collection of essays! The essays that I liked, I really loved, and I didn't really dislike any of the essays in particular, I just didn't connect to the topics. Some of my favourite essays from this collection include "Rereading Barthes and Nabokov," "That Crafty Feeling," Zadie Smith's scathing review of Date Movie, and the touching "Accidental Hero."
I have to say I didn't love the last essay, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men:The Difficult Gifts of David Foster Wallace. I would say this is more due to the fact that I haven't read any David Foster Wallace, and found the essay was really for someone who had read his work, or at least knew more about his life. I had a similar feeling about essays that dealt with movies or books I haven't read, I found myself reading through these sections much quicker than the rest of the book.
Part of me also wishes there were more personal essays in this collection, although I understand that this wasn't the purpose of this collection.
Overall Zadie Smith is a great writer with much to offer, and her thoughts are definitely worth reading and thinking over! If you are looking for an overall good collection of essays, I would recommend this one!...more
I'm not sure how I feel about this novel just yet. On one hand, I found it to be a gripping read and I couldn't put it down. On the other hand, I founI'm not sure how I feel about this novel just yet. On one hand, I found it to be a gripping read and I couldn't put it down. On the other hand, I found the plot very disjointed, and certain coincidences very unbelievable. When I first started this novel I was sure it would end up a 5 star read for me. However, towards the end I stopped caring about how the story would end up. Like I said, some plot points were very unbelievable for me, some problems much too conveniently solved I would say.
Like The Secret History, which I also rated 3 stars, this book was both enjoyable to read, but also at times quite a chore due to it's length and plot twists.
I'm starting to think Donna Tartt's novels just aren't for me. I don't think I'll be reading The Little Stranger any time soon.
I just finished the novel today so I'm curious to see if my point of view changes in the next couple of days as I think more about the novel.
I enjoyed this novel more than I had expected! I felt instantly engrossed in the story, and can say that I was genuinely creeped out at times! If you I enjoyed this novel more than I had expected! I felt instantly engrossed in the story, and can say that I was genuinely creeped out at times! If you like historical fiction crossed with mystery, I think you would definitely enjoy this novel! I look forward to picking up Sarah Waters' other novels in the near future!
(view spoiler)[ I really liked Dr. Faraday at first, and it was great to see how slowly my opinion on him changed and I started to doubt this version of the story. Is it commonly thought that Dr. Faraday might have been malevolently implicated in the demise of the Ayres family? I was so sure by the end that he has pushed Caroline. He definitely had this strange fascination with Hundreds and the Ayres family. His relationship with Caroline was very controlling and his goal, by the end, seemed to be to live in Hundreds and prove to society that he was worthy despite his class. I really enjoyed this aspect of the plot and find him to be a grotesque yet fascinating character. (hide spoiler)]
This was a great overview of bell hooks's views on various issues insofar as they relate to feminism. She addresses several different things, includinThis was a great overview of bell hooks's views on various issues insofar as they relate to feminism. She addresses several different things, including race, violence, parenting and sex. Each chapter was pretty distinct and could be read as a separate essay, but I think the book is best read cover-to-cover.
If you are beginning to learn about feminism, this might not be the best place to start (go read Feminism is for Everybody, also by bell hooks) but I wouldn't say this is a difficult or dry read.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by bell hooks, as well as owning my own copy!
My dad bought me a copy of A Room of One's Own for my high school graduation. 6 years later, I can finally say I've read it!
Overall I really liked WooMy dad bought me a copy of A Room of One's Own for my high school graduation. 6 years later, I can finally say I've read it!
Overall I really liked Woolf's musings on women and fiction, and would agree with her conclusions that a woman needs a steady income and privacy (hence the title, A Room of One's Own) to write fiction. For such a short book, however, I found there were some sections that dragged on a bit.
I wish I had read this book back when I first received it, as a soon-to-be 17 year old who had just started reading more "serious" literature. I think it would have been a great time in my life to have read it. I'm happy I've finally read it, however, and I hope to re-read it in the future!...more
This was a cute book! I found the stories pleasant to read, although I found the book really short. It seemed like there was something missing, and I This was a cute book! I found the stories pleasant to read, although I found the book really short. It seemed like there was something missing, and I can't quite figure out what. I guess I just expected more stories to be told... I found the narrator's narrative to be quite underdeveloped and almost a bit childish.
The best part of this collection was, for me, the art. It might not be to everyone's taste, but I found the art really quirky and fun!
I would give this book 2.5 stars if I could!...more
Some details discussed in this short review might contain spoilers! Only read if you don't mind knowing basic plot points!
This book was both beautifulSome details discussed in this short review might contain spoilers! Only read if you don't mind knowing basic plot points!
This book was both beautiful and heartbreaking, and is definitely worth a read if you can stomach the subject matter. I want to start by giving a trigger warning- this book deals with sexual violence and can be very hard to read at times. I found myself wincing while reading certain portions, and I would say that this book isn't for everyone for that reason. However, I do think it deals with important subjects that I don't see being tackled every day in fiction- so it is definitely worth a read.
I thought the writing style was ok, but what really impressed me with this novel are the characters. I thought certain characters- Mireille, Michael and Lorraine in particular- were great because you could really see them develop. Other characters were a bit more one dimensional, especially Mireille's father. As this was Mireille's story, I didn't find it hindered the story.
The part I found really great and powerful about this book was the aftermath. (view spoiler)[ While reading the brutal rape scenes, I thought that it would all get better once Mireille was freed. However, emotionally, Mireille was obviously devastated and to see the impact her captivity had on her was very scary. I seriously sat at the edge of my seat while reading this section of the novel, and I found it very emotional and hard to read. (hide spoiler)]
I also really liked how this book looked at Haiti, and discussed important socioeconomic problems that affected many of the characters. It was very interesting to see how her captors justified what they did.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to read everything else Roxanne Gay will publish in the future!...more
This book was beautiful, and heartbreaking. I loved how much we learned about each of the seven women, and how the characters overlapped between the sThis book was beautiful, and heartbreaking. I loved how much we learned about each of the seven women, and how the characters overlapped between the stories. I think this was great because it really gives us a feel for Brewster Place, and those who live there. So many aspects of each woman's story were sad, but there was also hope within each story. I really liked that balance. The writing was beautiful and overall I really enjoyed my reading experience.
I found all of the seven main characters to be fully fleshed-out. They all seemed so real, with their insecurities and regrets and mistakes and all the things that happened to each of them.
**Semi-spoiler** I kind of predicted what was going to happen to Lorraine and I spent a small section of the book dreading it, and then it happened and I have to say I had trouble reading that one scene. I'm trying to be vague to not spoil anyone, but I do want to point out that there is quite a bit of disturbing content in the book....more
I really enjoyed this novel but some aspects confused me. Specifically, I did not quite understand why the author decided to go in reverse chronologicI really enjoyed this novel but some aspects confused me. Specifically, I did not quite understand why the author decided to go in reverse chronological order. I did not find it added anything particular to the novel. Also I found the 4 sisters all had very similar voices-not sure if this was intentional or not. Even if it was intentional, this is one of my pet peeves for novels told from multiple perspectives.
I did really enjoy how disjointed all the stories were- it made for an interesting reading experience that pretty much read like a collection of short stories. Despite the similarity of the voices of each narrator, I did overall really like my reading experience and would like to read more of Julia Alvarez's work!...more
Reread from June 24-July 4 2015: I really loved re-reading this book! I first read this for a class in college, 4 years ago. I really enjoyed it back Reread from June 24-July 4 2015: I really loved re-reading this book! I first read this for a class in college, 4 years ago. I really enjoyed it back then, and I'm happy to say it remains one of my favourite books and definitely my favourite Jane Austen novel! I had originally rated it 4 stars but I increased my rating to 5 stars! I love all the characters, the way the plot unfolds, the writing style, the ending...it's just such a great novel!...more
Elli (The Bibliophile)
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Books:
2015
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